it principally is

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it principally is" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to emphasize the main or primary nature of something in a formal context. Example: "In this analysis, it principally is the economic factors that drive market trends."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

If 1912 is any indicator of what could potentially happen, and it principally is, Republicans better prepare themselves for a President Clinton or Sanders.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Chowdhury says it's principally been tested on models that use classification to group people for the purposes of building AI models, so it may not be suitable for other types.

TechCrunch

"The Chinese side says principally it is important, but practically it takes time and money," said Sultan Baheen, the Afghan ambassador to China.

The New York Times

Principally, it is because of its greater impact on the productivity than non-IT capitals.

Journal of Industrial Engineering International

Principally, it is that familiarity has bred contentment.

The Guardian - Sport

Principally, it is not consulting with professional voices within the fire and rescue service.

The Guardian - Opinion

Principally, it is known that pH [ 18], H2O2[ 19, 20], hypoxia [ 21, 22], and cannabinoids [ 23] reduce the intercellular communication.

Cell Communication and Signaling

Representative James A. Leach, Republican of Iowa and a member of the International Relations Committee, said that "it is principally up to China" to improve trade relations.

The New York Times

Principally it's pure dance.

The New York Times - Arts

But principally, it's about directing extra resources to schools in the most deprived parts of England.

BBC

And principally it's these giant corporations that are hiring armies of lobbyists," she said.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it principally is" in formal writing when you want to emphasize the primary or most important aspect of something. Be mindful of the context, as this phrase can sound overly formal in casual conversation.

Common error

Avoid using "it principally is" in casual or informal writing. Opt for simpler alternatives like "it's mainly" or "it's mostly" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it principally is" functions as a declarative statement used to emphasize the primary characteristic or attribute of a subject. As shown in Ludwig's examples, it presents a fact or an assessment about something's nature.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

20%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it principally is" serves to emphasize the primary aspect of a subject, most often appearing in formal writing styles, such as journalistic or scientific publications. Ludwig indicates that the phrase is correct and best suited for formal contexts. For informal communication, simpler alternatives such as "it mainly is" or "it primarily is" may be more appropriate. While grammatically sound, overuse in casual contexts should be avoided.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it is mainly

Replaces "principally" with "mainly", reducing the formality slightly.

it is primarily

Substitutes "principally" with "primarily", offering a near synonym with a slightly different emphasis.

it is chiefly

Replaces "principally" with "chiefly", maintaining a similar level of formality.

it is largely

Uses "largely" instead of "principally", indicating a significant but not necessarily exclusive aspect.

it is essentially

Replaces "principally" with "essentially", focusing on the fundamental nature of something.

it is basically

Substitutes "principally" with "basically", making the statement more informal.

it is mostly

Uses "mostly" instead of "principally", suggesting a majority but not necessarily complete dominance.

its main feature is

Rephrases the sentence to focus on the main attribute, changing the sentence structure.

the principal aspect of it is

Transforms the phrase to highlight the principal aspect, altering sentence construction.

it's fundamentally

Shortens the expression while retaining the focus on the core element.

FAQs

What does "it principally is" mean?

The phrase "it principally is" means that something is mainly or primarily a certain way. It emphasizes the main characteristic or attribute of a subject.

When is it appropriate to use "it principally is"?

It is appropriate to use "it principally is" in formal writing or speech when you want to highlight the most important aspect of something. However, in informal contexts, simpler phrases like "it mainly is" or "it mostly is" may be more suitable.

What are some alternatives to "it principally is"?

Some alternatives to "it principally is" include "it is mainly", "it is primarily", or "it is chiefly". The choice depends on the specific context and the desired level of formality.

Is "it principally is" grammatically correct?

Yes, "it principally is" is grammatically correct. According to Ludwig, the phrase is usable in written English to emphasize the main or primary nature of something in a formal context.